(34) Ohio Hits The Road For Clash With (29) Steel City
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08/05/2015 In Previews, Talk Derby To Me By Andrew Marron

(34) Ohio Hits The Road For Clash With (29) Steel City

Between 2006 and 2012, the Ohio Roller Girls and Steel City’s Steel Hurtin’ only managed to play each other two times, with both squads winning once.  Over the last two seasons, however, Ohio and Steel City have played each other four times, and have developed quite the rivalry with one another.  Pittsburgh’s Steel Hurtin’ lost to Ohio twice in 2013 and once again in late August of 2014.  However, the old proverb “revenge is a dish best served cold,” or… vengeance is often more satisfying if it is not executed immediately, couldn’t be more true for Steel City as they were able to defeat Ohio one month later at the WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs.  Ohio has had nearly a full year to digest that loss, and to prepare for this weekend’s upcoming rematch with the Pittsburgh squad.  Although Ohio has a 4-2 overall record over Steel City, the bouts themselves have been close and exciting to the end with the average winning point differential over their six bouts being only 27 points.

With a 10-7 overall record this season, Ohio is currently riding high as they are sporting a four bout win streak over teams Demolition City (IN), Ft. Wayne (IN), Toronto, and most recently at Nashville (TN).  They’ll look to keep momentum on the upswing, as following their tilt with Steel City, Ohio will face Naptown (IN) at home on August 22nd before heading to the WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs where they’ll lace their skates against Sweden’s Crime City Rollers.  Newly elected Captain, The Smacktivist, continues to be Ohio’s “go to” jammer with Kitty Liquorbottom and Bigg Rigg filling in behind.  Skaters like Burnadeath, Loraine Acid, and Texas Chainsaw Sasskicker are also seeing more time with the jammer star, making Ohio’s jammer rotation a little more stable.

Steel City started their season off slowly, going 0-3 at the Quad City Chaos Invitational hosted by Toronto Roller Derby back in March.  Since then, they’ve gone 6-4 with victories over Charlottesville (VA), Queen City (NY), Blue Ridge (NC), Brandywine (PA), Demolition City, and most recently against Columbia (SC).  Following their bout with Ohio, the Steel Hurtin’ will remain idle until the Division 1 Playoffs where they’ll face the Pikes Peak Derby Dames (CO).  The Steel City jamming crew continues to be led by the one-two punch of Snot Rocket Science and Leanne Groll.  Surprisingly absent from their roster for the Ohio bout are jammers Rock Hard Candy  and River Kyx, which means dual threat Hurricane Heather may see more offensive time on the jam line than defensively in the pack.  Stalwart Steel City Co-Captain Ally McKill and teammates The Kraken, Nick Rollfiliac, and Dakota Slamming will anchor the pack for the Hurtin’.

Ohio’s Gang Green will also get in on the action this Saturday as they’ll play Pittsburgh’s reserve squad, the Steel Beamers.  Historically, Gang Green holds a 2-1 advantage over the Beamers, winning the last two meetings 174-127 (2014) and 184-150 (2013).  Be sure to check out both teams at their final home bout of 2015 on August 22nd at the Ohio Building located at the Ohio Expo Center as they play Naptown.

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Andrew Marron